Union members urged to make voice heard on health care

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, September 6, 2009

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Union members urged to make voice heard on health care

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ODESSA — The debate over health care and President Barack Obama’s webcast to students were touched on in remarks made by Democratic and union leaders Monday at the 52nd annual Permian Basin Central Labor Union Labor Day celebration.

Approximately 125 people attended the event at Slator Community Center in Odessa.

“It’s really important to call about health care reform. Let the White House know we’re in favor of going to the single-payer or public option to get insurance companies out, or it’s going to get worse,” Reeves County Democratic Chair Bob Dean said.

Most U.S. bankruptcies are filed because of health care expenses and 18,000 people die annually due to lack of insurance, Dean said. “We’ve got to make sure our voice is heard. This is getting critical. It’s getting down to crunch time,” he said.

President of the Permian Basin Central Union D.L. Willis said Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush have addressed schoolchildren so he doesn’t comprehend the uproar over today’s webcast.

“For my life, I can’t understand what’s wrong with the president addressing the children of the United States. I’m sorry, but that’s the way I feel,” Willis said.

Elected and union officials also talked about the importance of the labor movement and Labor Day. Texas AFL-CIO Legislative/Political Director Rene Lara said Labor Day started in the 1800s. Workers would get together and celebrate even before the holiday became law. “It is one of the most noble and worthy days to celebrate,” Lara said.

Labor has helped push through many progressive pieces of legislation through the years, such as child labor laws, the 40-hour work week, vacations and holidays.

Unemployment insurance this past state legislative session was a big issue. Obama’s stimulus package included $555 billion in unemployment benefits, but it would require the state to expand the number of people who qualify, and business leaders are against that idea.

Lara said health care is another big issue. Obama was scheduled to speak to the national AFL-CIO on the topic Monday.

Like Dean, he urged those attending to express their opinion on the issue. “Nowadays no matter what part of the country you live in, you can contact anyone in your state. Your ability to participate in the (political) process is much easier. Your vote counts as much as the vote of someone who is a multi-millionaire. Please stay engaged,” Lara said.

Midland City Council member Michael Trost said he has known Willis more than 20 years and was a member of two unions — for culinary and aircraft workers year ago. As a union member, he had “great benefits.”

“I didn’t have a problem with unions and I still don’t. This is a great day for labor. … You all keep at it. Just remember we’re on your side,” Trost said.

Council member John James, who did not make remarks to the audience, said the day is a “great opportunity to pay tribute to the ingenuity and productivity of the American worker.”

Kim Black, president of the 400-member Permian Basin chapter of the Communication Workers of America union, said Monday was a day to mark what labor has done for society, how far the movement has come and remember employees who help make the economy go.

Ector County Democratic Chair Bobbie Duncan said her party is “alive and well.”

“Unions are the lifeblood of the United States. Because of unions we have raised this nation up. They created the middle class,” Duncan said.

A retired teacher with 43 years of service, Duncan said she knows some residents don’t want their children to hear Obama today. His message is billed as work hard and stay in school.

Without an educated populace, Duncan said, we won’t be able to continue our lifestyle.

NAACP President Gene Collins said the labor unions and his organization, college students and others helped elect the first African-American president. Now there are more opportunities than ever before. “We have, in addition to receiving financial support through the stimulus packages, we have government reaching out to people in a partnership to make this country all it can possibly be. That was part of the message of hope. … We all have to turn our optimism into service because the opposition - those people who hate America, those people who hate the president, who hate racial minorities, who hate anyone who isn’t like them - they are bombarding the airwaves and other forms of media with their message of hate. Sadly enough, the message is resonating with too many people,” Collins said. “I hope labor unions realize they have a friend in the White House for the first time in a long time.”